ANU campus lettering was established around 1960 based on Garamond bold typeface which had good weight and legibility, having well balanced letters with a link to the past.
I did quite a bit of research into distance readability, colours and backgrounds and came up with this standard design for a building sign which lasted until well into the early 1980s when changes in nomenclature required a complete review. (I had retired in 1977) – but the new system was not (IMHO) as elegant as mine.
The framing above was all in baked enamel aluminium, manufactured in Canberra.
See also the street name signs which were designed to match.
The building behind was designed by Robin Boyd of Grounds, Romberg and Boyd, Melbourne.